: a Semitic language originally of the Arabs of the Hejaz and Nejd that is now the prevailing speech of a wide region of southwestern Asia and northern Africa
1
: of, relating to, or constituting the language Arabic
… Arabic neologisms of the nineteenth century …—
Bernard Lewis
Bernard LewisHis bibliography contains no classical Arabic texts and only a handful of dubiously transliterated recent Arabic titles …—Pierre Cachia
Pierre Cachia… edited and reviewed by Arabic scholars in Paris …—Edwin McDowell
Edwin McDowell2
: expressed in or utilizing Arabic numerals
21 is an Arabic number.
Arabic notation
3
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Arabia or the Arabs
As Arabic music permeates various other sounds, so are western sounds finding their way into various Arabic musics.—Hank Bordowitz
Hank BordowitzThe Middle East meets the Wild West in this variation on Arabic hummus.—Steven Raichlen
Steven RaichlenThere still exist some folk instruments in Portugal whose names indicate their Arabic origin.—Alexander Buchner
Alexander BuchnerExamples of Arabic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Miriam Jordan, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
As part of the hostage-prisoner exchange deal, Israel on Saturday was about to release around 600 Palestinians from jail, wearing sweatshirts with a verse from Psalms translated into Arabic about pursuing one's enemies.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 23 Feb. 2025
Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
The title should not be confused with the Chinese province Yunnan; in this case, Yunan is the Arabic name for Jonah (also known as Yunus), the prophet swallowed up and spit out by the sea beast, transformed and yet the same, much like the sparse island of Langeness where much of the film is set.
—Jay D. Weissberg, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Arabic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Stacks in Arabic, Farsi, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Punjabi and Tigrinya were ready to be packed, and the first batches in Amharic, Khmer and Portuguese would soon be shipped.
—Miriam Jordan, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
As part of the hostage-prisoner exchange deal, Israel on Saturday was about to release around 600 Palestinians from jail, wearing sweatshirts with a verse from Psalms translated into Arabic about pursuing one's enemies.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Using an Arabic language interpreter sporadically throughout her testimony, Shaheen detailed the attack for the jury.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
The title should not be confused with the Chinese province Yunnan; in this case, Yunan is the Arabic name for Jonah (also known as Yunus), the prophet swallowed up and spit out by the sea beast, transformed and yet the same, much like the sparse island of Langeness where much of the film is set.
—Jay D. Weissberg, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Arabic
Cite this Entry
“Arabic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Arabic. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share